Red Sox lose fourth in a row as Tigers end skid at five

Boston Red Sox pitcher Rubby De La Rosa reacts to giving up a solo home run to Detroit Tigers' Torii Hunter in the fifth inning of a baseball game in Detroit, Friday, June 6, 2014. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

Detroit Tigers second baseman Ian Kinsler jumps after throwing to first base as Boston Red Sox's Grady Sizemore slides into second base on a Jonathan Herrera fielders choice in the second inning of a baseball game in Detroit, Friday, June 6, 2014. Sizemore was out at second base. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

Boston Red Sox's Brock Holt hits a single off Detroit Tigers pitcher Drew Smyly in the first inning of a baseball game in Detroit, Friday, June 6, 2014. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

Detroit Tigers pitcher Drew Smyly throws against the Boston Red Sox in the first inning of a baseball game in Detroit, Friday, June 6, 2014. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

Detroit Tigers' Torii Hunter dives safely back into first base under the tag of Boston Red Sox first baseman Brock Holt in the fourth inning of a baseball game in Detroit, Friday, June 6, 2014. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

Detroit Tigers' Miguel Cabrera singles against the Boston Red Sox in the fourth inning of a baseball game in Detroit, Friday, June 6, 2014. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

Boston Red Sox pitcher Rubby De La Rosa throws against the Detroit Tigers in the third inning of a baseball game in Detroit, Friday, June 6, 2014. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

Detroit Tigers' Rajai Davis (20) congratulates Nick Castellanos after scoring on a Andrew Romine single against the Boston Red Sox in the third inning of a baseball game in Detroit, Friday, June 6, 2014. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

Detroit Tigers' Ian Kinsler celebrates hitting a solo home run against the Boston Red Sox in the fifth inning of a baseball game in Detroit, Friday, June 6, 2014. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

Detroit Tigers' Torii Hunter points to the stands after hitting a solo home run against the Boston Red Sox in the fifth inning of a baseball game in Detroit, Friday, June 6, 2014. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

Detroit Tigers second baseman Ian Kinsler throws Boston Red Sox's A.J. Pierzynski out in the sixth inning of a baseball game in Detroit, Friday, June 6, 2014. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

Boston Red Sox's A.J. Pierzynski reacts to grounding out against the Detroit Tigers in the sixth inning of a baseball game in Detroit, Friday, June 6, 2014. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

Boston Red Sox catcher A.J. Pierzynski, left, talks with pitcher Rubby De La Rosa against the Detroit Tigers in the fifth inning of a baseball game in Detroit, Friday, June 6, 2014. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

Boston Red Sox catcher A.J. Pierzynski, left, talks with pitcher Rubby De La Rosa against the Detroit Tigers in the fifth inning of a baseball game in Detroit, Friday, June 6, 2014. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

Boston Red Sox pitcher Rubby De La Rosa sits on the bench after being relieved against the Detroit Tigers in the sixth inning of a baseball game in Detroit, Friday, June 6, 2014. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

Boston Red Sox pitcher Rubby De La Rosa reacts to giving up a solo home run to Detroit Tigers' Torii Hunter in the fifth inning of a baseball game in Detroit, Friday, June 6, 2014. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

DETROIT – The Detroit Tigers insisted they were not concerned about their worst skid of the year a few hours before playing the defending World Series champion Boston Red Sox in a rematch of the AL Championship Series.

Detroit later showed it still has what it takes to win with strong pitching, big hits and usually sound defense.

Ian Kinsler and Torii Hunter hit back-to-back homers in the fifth inning and Victor Martinez cleared the fences in the eighth, helping Detroit beat Boston, 6-2, and end a season-high five-game losing streak last night.

“This was a good night for everyone,” Drew Smyly said after pitching six strong innings.

Detroit had lost 13 of 17 games, including the previous four, since sweeping the Red Sox on the road a few weeks ago.

“I’ve spoken to players a couple times over this stretch,” Tigers Manager Brad Ausmus said. “There’s no reason to throw a fit unless it’s a lack of effort or concentration. This stretch has not been caused by a lack of concentration or effort.”

Smyly (3-4) snapped a skid of his own. He was 0-2 in his last two starts, giving up a total of nine runs over nine innings, and was 0-3 in his previous six outings. The left-hander allowed two runs on five hits over six innings and struck out four, walking only one against the Red Sox.

“He was locating his pitches and keeping us off balance,” Boston center fielder Jackie Bradley Jr. said after going 0-for-3 with three strikeouts. “He had command on both sides of the plate.”

In their last seven series, they been swept four times and have won each game in the other three matchups.

“We became so accustomed to being consistent,” Farrell said. “The last two and a half weeks have been difficult.”

Kinsler and Hunter cleared the fences during a three-pitch sequence in the fifth, giving the Tigers a 4-1 lead.

“They squared (De La Rosa) up when he was up in the strike zone,” Farrell said.

The Red Sox pulled within two runs in the sixth when Dustin Pedroia reached on Romine’s throwing error, advanced to third on David Ortiz’s single through the right side against a shifted infield and scored on Jonny Gomes’s sacrifice fly.

Detroit’s Ian Krol and Joba Chamberlain each threw an inning of scoreless relief and Joe Nathan pitched the ninth in a non-save situation.

Colbrunn hospitalized

Boston Red Sox hitting coach Greg Colbrunn is expected to stay hospitalized for at least another week after he had bleeding in the area between his brain and the thin tissues covering it.

The 44-year-old Colbrunn was admitted to the Cleveland Clinic on Wednesday night after experiencing dizziness and pain prior to Boston’s game against the Indians.

Manager John Farrell said yesterday that Colbrunn’s family has joined him at the hospital in Cleveland, where his condition is improving enough that he’s able to get up and walk around.

Tim Hyers, Boston’s minor league hitting coordinator, is filling in for Colbrunn while he’s away from the team indefinitely.

Colbrunn played 13 seasons in the majors and helped the Arizona Diamondbacks win the World Series in 2001.

NOTES

∎ Tigers C Alex Avila is expected to miss tonight’s game after being hit in the head by Ortiz’s backswing in the eighth inning, and being replaced by Bryan Holaday. “He’s in a good humor, but he got stung pretty good,” Ausmus said.

∎ Tigers SS Eugenio Suarez was held out of the lineup to rest his sore left knee and Ausmus said he is “hour to hour,” when asked for timetable on his return.